Unique for 30-06?

[birddog]

I'm wondering if anyone has any recipes for a lightly loaded 30-06 (preferably with a light 125 or 150 grain bullet) using Unique powder. I've managed to distill all 3 handgun calibers I load for down to Unique powder. Everything from plinking loads to hunting loads.

Right now, I've got a T/C Encore 30-06 handgun (15 inch barrel) that I would like to make some relatively manageable loads for. I'd be a happy camper if I could keep using Unique, and keep things simple.

Any suggestions or opinions?

Thanks,
Joel

 

[brickeyee]

You could try lead bullet loads. Lyman used to have some.

 

[Jim Watson]

An experienced engineer, R. Buckminster Fuller, maybe, said "Simplify as much as possible, BUT NO MORE." Unique is awful fast burning for a bottleneck rifle round, even in a horse pistol like a TC.

There is a lot of data for .30-06 cast bullets with Unique, but nothing in the modern literature for jacketed. I think it can be done if you are very careful, but there is a risk of sticking bullets at the low end and sudden high pressures at the top end. Phil Sharpe was loading 150 grain MC (metal cased, probably USGI) with 15 to 20 grains of Unique in 1937. 1400 fps, 28,000 psi and 1900 fps, 40,000 psi (really CUP) respectively.

Y'all be careful, now, you hear?

 

[birddog]

Jim,
Thanks for the info. I will probably just go with a different powder. I'm careful, but I don't want to be dealing with something that comes with a "be careful!" warning label attached... 30-06 in one hand is enough fun; I don't want to be worried about blowing up the gun.

 

[Grump]

Unique and similar powders (IMR 4227, IIRC, and definitely 4759) are perfectly fine for mid-power loads in rifle cases. It's a time-honored and safe proposition with published and reliable loads, with the possible exception of the really light ones in .45-70...those are *reputed* to sometimes leave a ring in the chamber, but that's with original soft-steel trapdoor Springfields and similar rifles of ancient origin.

As long as you NEVER try to hot-rod it, the powder works okay. Light loads of 748 in .308 with military 147-gr bullets still cycled my M1A but initial case expansion was very slow and the cases were quite sooty. IIRC, I was down in the high 1700 FPSs before it quit cycling...or was that with the lead bullets?? Oh well, it's in the notes somewhere I'm SURE Unique will work better for reduced loads.

 

[ACP230]

Unique has been used for "gallery" or practice loads with lead bullets in rifle rounds for many years.
Check some reloading manuals for appropriate bullets and charges.

 

[cropcirclewalker]

I have been working up a light load for my sporterized '03 springfield. I am currently shooting a 120 gr gas checked LRN bullet in front of 7.5 gr of Unique and clocking them at approx 1250 fps. It recoils like a .22 and is plenty accurate to take squirrels off my bird feeder at 50 feet without sending the bullet into the next county.

Lyman's 46th edition reloading handbook lists a 115 gr (Lyman 311359) cast bullet gas checked in front of 14 grains of Unique at 1960 fps (27000 pressure C.U.P.) in what they call the potentially most accurate charge for that bullet.

Please look in their book...YMMV

I can find no loads for Unique with a jacketed bullet. Of course, I don't look too hard. I cast my own.

 

[Pointman]

Don't know if there is a Unique loading but there is a good article on LeverGuns concerning light loading cast bullets that I found interesting.

 

[JohnSmallTX]

Unique in 30-06

I've used Unique in an 30-06. 100 gr Speer Plinker bullets and 10 gr of Unique. Great for popping cans. Only problem is the Plinker bullets are very short. That doesn't leave much room for the fingers when seating them.

 

[Clark]

15" barrel, Unique and 125 gr bullets in the 30-06 per Quickload:

13 gr 20,000 psi, 1600 fps
27 gr 60,000 psi, 2400 fps



150 gr bullets:
12 gr 20,000 psi, 1450 fps
25 gr 60,000 psi, 2200 fps


If I were doing it, I would watch out for stuck bullets at the low end and pressure signs at the high end.

 

[steveno]

I have used 18 grains of Unique and a 130 grain Nosler Ballistic tip in a 270 winchester Ruger #1A. this is good for inch groups at 100 yards and chronographs at 1,850 fps out of the 22 inch barrel. it is a fun load to shoot

 

[birddog]

Thanks for all the tips. Keep 'em coming!